WASHINGTON – Get Set Transylvania has been recognized with a Best in Category Achievement
Award for Children and Youth Programs from the National Association of Counties (NACo). The
awards honor innovative, effective county government programs that strengthen services for
residents.

NACo recognized Get Set Transylvania Early Childhood Collective for the county’s work to
improve the lives of children through the support and collaboration with over 22 other
organizations in Transylvania County that serve families and children. Get Set started with a
stakeholder meeting hosted by county government in 2015 and formed the Early Childhood
Initiative releasing the State of the Young Child Report in late 2015 that provided a data-informed
road map of the issues children and their families in Transylvania County faced. Get Set was
chosen in 2018 to become the first rural community nationwide to partner with Sesame
Workshop’s Sesame Street in Communities.

“Get Set is a community collective that leverages the strengths of the different
organizations involved to do what we can to tackle needs and problems in our community.
This is a grassroots effort that makes the best of the resources and talent we have on hand
and pairs that with advocacy to address the issues that are not in our local control. This
award recognizes the tireless effort of our Get Set partners and acknowledges how truly
innovative Get Set is for both early childhood efforts and for community work,” County
Commissioner Page Lemel said.

NACo President Greg Cox said, “Counties implement innovative programs that enhance residents’
quality of life every day. This year’s Achievement Award-winning programs demonstrate how
counties build healthy, safe and vibrant communities across America.”
Nationally, awards are given in 18 different categories that reflect the vast, comprehensive
services counties provide. The categories include children and youth, criminal justice, county
administration, information technology, health, civic engagement and many more. Get Set
Transylvania stood out among 616 entries from counties across 32 states to be recognized among
18 total Best in Show award recipients.

County Manager Jaime Laughter will be presenting an update on Get Set’s work in the county at
the Board of Commissioners’ meeting on May 14 at 9 am, including the work the collaborative is
planning as part of the Sesame Street in Communities partnership in the coming year.

Started in 1970, NACo’s annual Achievement Awards program is designed to recognize county
government innovations. Each nominee is judged on its own merits and not against other
applications received.

The National Association of Counties (NACo) unites America’s 3,069 county governments. Founded in 1935, NACo brings county
officials together to advocate with a collective voice on national policy, exchange ideas and build new leadership skills, pursue
transformational county solutions, enrich the public’s understanding of county government and exercise exemplary leadership in
public service. Learn more at www.naco.org

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